LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A former Little Rock police officer on trial for manslaughter opened fire on a teenager who posed no threat, a prosecutor told jurors Wednesday. But defense attorneys said the officer did nothing illegal as he responded to a burglary call.

Josh Hastings is accused of killing 15-year-old Bobby Moore III last August while investigating a complaint about car burglaries at an apartment complex. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Hastings told investigators that Moore was driving toward him in a car, but Pulaski County Chief Deputy Prosecutor John Johnson told jurors that evidence will show the car was stopped or backing up when Hastings opened fire. Johnson also said forensic evidence would show that the bullet traveled ear-to-ear through Moore’s head, indicating his head was turned away when Hastings fired.

“It’s just straight-up reckless behavior,” Johnson said.

The prosecutor also told jurors that two teenagers who were with Moore at the time fled in different directions, yet they told investigators the same story about what happened.

But defense attorney Bill James said the boys have given inconsistent stories. He said one initially told police he was walking in nearby woods and went to the scene after hearing shots.

James also said there was no evidence that Hastings did anything illegal.

“Is this a search for the truth or a search for a conviction?” James asked jurors.

James said the boys were breaking car windows and set off an auto alarm. When they saw a flashlight, they knew police had arrived, the attorney said. He also noted that both surviving boys had criminal records and were on probation.

“We’ll have to just see what the evidence shows about why they were running,” James told lawyers. “The facts will not get you a conviction.”

James has said he plans to call Hastings to testify.

Johnson began building the state’s case by calling police officers and others who responded to the shooting scene to testify.

With a crime scene technician on the stand, Johnson displayed a series of photos, some showing Moore’s body, on courtroom TV monitors. That prompted several people in the gallery to walk out. Others cried from their seats as a photo of Moore’s slumped over body stayed on the screens.

Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen sent the jury out of the room and admonished the gallery for distracting jurors. Griffen banned the people who left from returning.

“Let me be very clear: I can fine you on site or put you in jail immediately,” Griffen said.

Another photo showed Moore’s lower body, including his feet. His left foot was wearing a rubber sandal. Johnson pointed out that Moore’s right-foot sandal was on the brake pedal, his foot had slipped out and was next to the accelerator.

Johnson told jurors the boys had been out all night and went to a west Little Rock apartment complex to break into cars.

“They were out there, really, for all the wrong reasons. They were breaking the law, looking for cars that were unlocked,” Johnson said. “There’s no reason to sugarcoat it.”

But Johnson said the boys didn’t realize anyone had figured out what they were doing. Then they saw a flashlight, which was being pointed at their car by Hastings.

He said the boys heard a voice command, “Little Rock police! Stop the car!” Then Hastings fired.

Johnson said the boys’ recollection wasn’t identical but that their accounts and evidence from the scene indicate the car was stopped or moving backward.

James said Hastings had a “split second” to make a decision with a car coming at him at night at about 15 mph.